So far in November there hasn't been so much time by my workbench as I've been on a trip to Germany to visit Faszination Modellbau in Friedrichshafen with other members of Gleng Model Railway Club. When returning from this great Journey there was time do do some catching up at work. -But one of the first workbench projects this month was actually while we were in Germany. The rolling-stock for my German G-scale Heeresfeldbahn are mostly LGB items, and as you might expect those are usually (very) expensive. Since I'm dismantling, repainting and detailing them anyway, I usually buy well used second-hand equipment without boxes as you can get those much 'cheaper'. -But then you usually gets what you pay for, so when I found some flat wagons to extend my G-scale Heeresfeldbahn rake at this exhibition, they were so well used and dirty that I barley could handle them and less bring them in my luggage. So when we returned to the hotel I put them in the bathtub and gave them a propper wash. When I was done it looked like the rest of a small German garden in the bottom of the bathtub...
When I came back home I put them in the dishwasher (while mrs. was out) for an even better wash so they can be painted.
While speaking of the Model exhibition in Friedrichshafen; Norwegian currency are weak these days, but Germany are usually cheaper than Norway regarding scale models and model trains so you can do some really good finds. So what did I buy while I was there?
Obviously I bought 3 LGB G-scale goods-wagons and I got them all for just € 110. My plan for them is to repaint (in 'gray'), weather and add them to my G-scale Heeresfeldbahn/ W^D trains. Perhaps making and adding some military loads to them in the future as well??
At the Bachmann Trains stand I found these well painted and highly detailed WWI characters in G-scale for only € 8 (!) -That's very cheap for ready painted figures in G-scale, and I think they will make a nice addition to my British W^D train. I'm quite not sure what kind of wagon to place them in yet. Any ideas? They are discounted so get them while you can.
At the Kato stand I found these N-scale (1:160) track-sets for a small 'oval'. These are impossible to find in Norway, and I got them pretty cheap too. Only € 31 pro set. My intention is to use them for a couple of small H0e/009 layouts as I have an old military ammunition box with very tight dimensions. When I do, updates will follow on this blog.
A nice new announcement on the Kato stand was the presentation of their new narrow gauge 009/H0e track in 9mm. They are comparable with their N-scale tracks, but they'll have larger sleepers with larger space between:
This is only 'close to N-scale' being in 1:144 scale. The wheels don't turn and it seems like a static model. As I have plans for upgrading a N-scale layout soon, I decided to buy this as I got it for only £ 3.55. Despite it's scale is highly detailed:
I got a couple of LGB wagons from another lot I bought, and decided to paint up one of them. Some of the LGB stock has really nice wood grain details which looks really good when bringing them out with paint. The unpainted one I usually use as a camera-wagon:
I don't think there will be spent too much time by the workbench this weekend eiter, as I think it's about time for another wargame trying out new rules. Updates will shortly follow on this blog. Please follow.
The model railway club where I am a member usually goes on an annual trip abroad to visit some of the larger model railway exhibitions in Europe, and usually visiting some other (model-) railway related places nearby as well. We usually visit different exhibitions and places each year, and last year we were in Göpping at 'The 38th Internationale Modellbahn Ausstellung and Märklin days'.
This year we went to Southern Germany to visit the exhibition 'Faszination Modellbau' in Friedrichshafen. Since Friedrichshafen is located by the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and close to Switzerland, we decided to combine this trip with some railfanning in Switzerland, where there are several narrow gauge railways operating. Some of the same Swiss railway companies which also are operated by some of my fellow mrc members during garden running sessions.
Faszination Modellbau
9 large halls filled with all kind of different aspects of scale modelling:
This Gauge 1(1:32 scale) German military layout really caught my interest:
Inside one of the coaches
Some impressions of other layouts:
Small N-scale modules by Kato
Landwasser viaduct from the Albula bahn in H0m
More Swiss H0m
N-scale
H0e
G-scale/ IIm by LGB
TT scale (1:120)
N-scale
0e scale
A Gauge 1 ferry layout
H0f
H0
Z-scale (1:220)
A small modular Z- layout
'Model of the Model'
Swedish H0 scale layout
This exhibition also shows several other categories of scale modelling, and too many to show them all here. Here are some few impressions though:
Very very large scale, with a military load too
One is made from plastic kits and the other from Cobi 'Lego'. Can you tell which?
It's a RC-ship which is more than 4 meters and 400kg (!)
Also a RC model
Book Nooks
It's incredible that the following models are made of paper:
Bernina bahn
We went with Berninabahn from Pontresina to Tirano in Italy for lunch. It's a very scenic Journey in spectacular scenery crossing the Swiss Engadin alps. The gradient is about 7% steep.
Pontresina
On the way to Ospizia Bernina railway station, the highest station located on 2253m above sea level
The railway runs in the main street through several villages
Brusio spiral viaduct
Tirano, Italy
Albula bahn
Another spectacular railway which cling it self to the mountain side through steep scenery, crossing it self several times. It's also on the UNESCO's list of world heritage sites.
Landwasser viaduct
The Albula railway museum
There were several model railways in different scales at the museum, but none of them were operating while we were there unfortunately.
Gornergrat bahn
The Gornergrat railway links the village of Zermatt located at 1604m with the summit of Gornergrat at an altitude of 3089m and is the second highest railway station in Europe. Traction is by cogwheel and the incline is about 11%.
Zermatt
Matterhorn in the background
Gornergrat and the best view for Matterhorn unless you wants to climate it
The original and the 'model'
We had an awesome week in Switzerland, Italy and Germany and I highly appreciate the travel companions from our club!
